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Activity: Country Profiles
Level: All levels
Website: Infonations at the United Nations site
Find out practically any information about any country on the United Nations site. It contains an easy-to-use, two step database that allows you to view and compare the most up-to-date statistical data. Explain to students that they can select up to seven countries at once on the first menu. Then, they can proceed to the data menu where they will be able to select statistics and other data fields.
Before going to the site, give students an assignment. Have them find out some specific information, such as:
1. The total population of the United States (271,648 in thousands, 1997 est.) and the population under 15 (22.1%, 1995 est.)
2. The largest city in Canada (Toronto)
3. The total population of Australia (18,250, in thousands; 1997 est.) and sex ratio (100 females per 100 male)
4. The number of women in parliament in the United Kingdom (9.52%, 1997 est.)
5. The average temperature in New Zealand (18 degrees centigrade)
6. The currency of Morocco (Moroccan dirham)
7. The number of threatened species in Kenya (106, 1996 est.)
8. The forest area in Cyprus (15.2% of land, 1995 est.)
9. The number of homicides in Sweden (1.3 per 100.000 people, 1995 est.)
10. The population growth in India (1.76%/annum, 1950-2030)
You can also use the information of the site to have students compare data between countries. For instance:
1. In which country is the percentage of urban population bigger, in England or the United States? (In England 76.15%, 1995 est.; United States 41.14%, 1995 est.)
2. Where is the average temperature higher in July, in Australia or the Bahamas? (Bahamas, 27 centigrade; Australia 12 centigrade)
3. What country is bigger, France or Slovenia? (Area: France, 551,500 km2; Slovenia, 20,256 km2)